In Argentina, fresh orange production is forecast to increase to 920,000 metric tons (MT) in 2021–22, up 120,000 MT from previous estimates. Fresh tangerine production is estimated to increase to 400,000 MT. The projections were in a semi-annual report on Argentina’s citrus industry from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA/FAS).
PLANTED AREA
Oranges and tangerines are grown in the northern part of Argentina.
The projected planted area remains unchanged for oranges and tangerines at 39,000 hectares and 28,000 hectares, respectively. There has been no significant investment in area expansion in recent years.
Smaller producers are struggling to compete, and when they exit the business, they tend to sell their orchards to larger farmers, USDA/FAS reported. There is a new trend of producers switching into more profitable crops.
PROCESSING
Fresh oranges for processing in 2021–22 are forecast to increase from 200,000 MT to 205,000 MT based on the production increase. Fresh tangerines for processing are expected to increase slightly to 65,000 MT because of larger production.
CONSUMPTION
Fresh orange domestic consumption in 2021–22 is forecast to rise to 628,000 MT, up 21% from earlier estimates as a consequence of larger production. Fresh tangerine domestic consumption is projected to increase slightly to 270,000 MT, up by 3.8%, due to larger production.
Consumption of fresh sweet citrus, especially oranges, continued to remain high due to sustained consumer demand for vitamin C in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TRADE
Fresh orange exports in 2021–22 are forecast to slightly increase to 88,000 MT; tangerine exports are estimated at 65,000 MT. Exports are expected to remain at lower-than-normal levels as a result of local producers’ reduced profitability and lack of competitiveness in international markets.
Both sweet citrus fruits continue to face robust competition from Southern Hemisphere competitors, primarily South Africa, and other non-traditional competitors, such as Peru, Chile and Uruguay.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service
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